Many amongst us have whiled away a perfectly good Saturday afternoon in the pub, sinking pints and carousing until the sun goes down. But if you prefer your sessions to have more of a direction or challenge about them, London is only too happy to oblige. The Bermondsey Beer Mile is a challenge worthy of any self-respecting beer fiend, stretching well over a mile through the streets and railway arches of South London. At the end of it lies happiness, hoppiness, and eternal glory. And more than a few sore heads in the morning, most likely…
Now, before we get down to business, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Firstly, Saturday is the ideal day to head to the Mile if you’re looking to hit as many venues as possible. Limited opening times can see some venues close relatively early, or not open at all, throughout the rest of the week.
- Secondly, there are two directions of attack, but this guide opts for the west to east trail. This allows you to make a quick diversion and kick things off with a very important food stop at Maltby Street Market. After all, boozing on an empty stomach has never been a good idea.
- Thirdly, always take a look at what’s on the menu on the day – we can make recommendations until the cows come home, but many of these breweries and taprooms will serve a rotating selection. So any suggestions we make will likely be gone by the time you get there! Fortunately, each venue finds passionate staff behind the bar who are always ready and willing to help you pick.
Right, with all that sorted, let’s get started along the Bermondsey Beer Mile!
Stop 1: Southwark Brewing Co
Things kick off on the Bermondsey beer mile with a pretty traditional approach to brewing being utilized to brew modern recipes. That means all the know-how, technique, and tradition, with all the flavour of contemporary craft beer. Our recommendation: kick things off with their London Pale Ale or Bankside Blonde ale on cask – a nice sessionable way to start the mile. But if you absolutely need your beer carbonated and cold(er), grab a citrussy Wish You Were Here… pale ale.
46 Druid Street, SE1 2EZ. Open Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday: 5 – 10pm; Saturday: 12 – 7pm; Sunday: 1 – 5pm.
Stop 2: Kanpai London Sake Brewery & Taproom
Yup, it’s already time for a break from the beer (don’t worry, there’s plenty still to come). The UK’s first-ever sake brewery and taproom first opened in Peckham but recently relocated to its new London-Bridge-abutting location. Whet your appetite with some of Kanpai’s delicious offerings, with ten sakes on tap. If you need a cold pint, though, they’ve got you sorted with their KANPAI collaboration beer as well as a selection of local craft beers.
48 Druid St, SE1 2EZ. Open Wednesday & Thursday: 5 – 10pm; Friday: 5 – 10:30pm; Saturday: 12 – 10:30pm; Sunday: 12 – 7pm.
Stop 3: London Beer Factory – The Barrel Project
This one is sure to be a hit with fans of sour beers thanks to a hefty selection of barrel-aged and craft beers. The Barrel Project merges traditional and modern brewing approaches that coalesce into truly unique beers. The name will make perfect sense as soon as you step inside – the place is PACKED with barrels. With 24 taps to choose from, many of which are sour or otherwise funk-forward, you’re likely to want to stay and try them all. But there’s more to see, and more to drink!
80 Druid Street, SE1 2HQ. Open Wednesday-Friday: 4 – 11pm; Saturday: 11am – 11pm; Sunday: 12 – 7pm.
Stop 4: These Days Aperitivo Bar
Ready for another break from the beer? What do you mean, not yet? Just trust us, that you’ll want to give the spritz-y delights at the These Days Aperitivo Bar a try. Since the whole point is for them to set up your stomach for a night of eating, maybe it will also work to prepare you for a day of drinking? Plus, should you think a spritz is more of a ‘summer drink’ they do also serve up a 50/50 martini that will warm you right up from the inside out.
100 Druid St, London SE1 2HQ. Open Thursday & Friday: 5:30 – 10:30pm; Saturday: 2:00 – 10:30pm.
Stop 5: Hiver Beers
Take a right when you exit These Days, head under the archway, and you’ll find yourself on your way to Hiver Beer’s Bermondsey taproom. You’ve heard of mead, and you’ve drank some beer – but have you ever had a beer that highlights the flavours of British honey? Hivers’ ‘honey beers’ are a distinctly unique offering in London – and they sure do leave you with a bit of a buzz. When you leave you’re going to want to duck back under the archway again, lest you miss out on the next stop…
56 Stanworth Street, SE1 3NY. Open Saturday: 11am – 7pm; Sunday: 12 – 5pm.
Stop 6: Anspach & Hobday – The Arch House
This is the stop that stout fans and adorers of a certain toucan-fronted beer have been waiting for. No, not because they serve the famed dark beer. Instead, they have something that just might turn your head the next time you see it available. Anspach & Hobday have received lashings of praise, deservedly so, for their ultra-smooth nitro porter London Black. What’s the difference between a porter and a stout? Erm… Don’t ask questions – just quaff the delicious liquid. And with 12 taps to choose from at their Arch House, there’s still plenty to try even if you don’t fancy a pint of roast-y, toast-y, lightly chocolate-y goodness.
118 Druid Street, SE1 2HH. Wednesday: 5 – 9pm; Thursday: 5 – 10pm; Friday: 2 – 10pm; Saturday: 11am – 10pm; Sunday: 12 – 6pm.
Stop 7: Moor Beer Company Vaults
More? Moor? Do you want more Moor? Well of course you do, because it’s the next stop on your voyage along the mile! Unless you had a HUGE meal beforehand, or have stuck to very small measures, you’re likely to be feeling the alcohol a bit at this point. The upbeat party atmosphere at Moor Beer’s Bermondsey taproom is sure to rejuvenate you. They serve an immense selection of natural, live beer. In fact, they were among the early proponents of all-natural and hazy beer. They also often have a staggering selection of traditional lambic beers for the proper beer nerds among you.
Be forewarned, you’re about to do very little walking as you hit up a lot of venues along Enid Street – the core central section of the Bermondsey Beer Mile.
71 Enid Street, SE16 3RA. Thursday: 2 – 10pm; Friday-Saturday: 12 – 10.30pm; Sunday: 2 – 8pm.
Stop 8: Gosnells Meadery Taproom
So you’ve had honey beer, you’ve had sake, and you’ve had some wild experimental beers – now how about some mead? Hardly the cloyingly sweet stuff that you might think of, Gosnells’ sparkling mead is bright and zippy and fits neatly into the beer mile’s offerings while satisfying beer and cider drinkers alike. And mead drinkers too, of course! There’s also beer on tap, but a visit to a meadery taproom without at least sampling the honeyed wares would be a bit of a waste.
72 Enid Street, SE16 3RA. Open Wednesday-Friday: 4 – 10:30pm; Saturday & Sunday: 12 – 10:30pm.
Stop 9: Cloudwater – 73 Enid Street
Cloudwater’s London taproom is just about the beating heart of the Bermondsey Beer Mile. Even on a quiet day it’s likely to be one of the busiest places around. Oh, and remember that hazy beer that we mentioned earlier? Well, Cloudwater is one of the UK’s best producers of extremely hop-forward beer – of the impenetrably hazy and crystal-clear variety. The London taproom for the Manchester brewery serves up some of the best prices around (as little as £4 a pint during Happy Hour!) and the best brews around. Honestly, if you call it quits here and just spend the rest of the day in the pastel environs, we wouldn’t blame you!
73 Enid Street, SE16 3RA. Open Tuesday – Wednesday: 4 – 8pm; Thursday-Friday: 4 – 10pm; Saturday 1 – 10pm; Sunday 2 – 8pm.
Stop 10: Bianca Road Brew Co
There are still more places to check out along this stretch of the Bermondsey Beer Mile – one of which is the Bianca Road brewery and taproom. The impressively vast space offers plenty of room for everyone to settle in with a glass of their American-influenced craft beer offerings. The brewery is particularly notable for its focus on being sustainable – using renewable energy and turning their spent brewing ingredients into biogas. Be warned Bermondsey adventurers, Enid Street isn’t done with you yet!
83 Enid Street, SE16 3RA. Tuesday-Thursday: 4 – 10pm; Friday: 4 – 11pm; Saturday: 12 – 11pm; Sunday: 1 – 6pm.
Stop 11: Craft Beer Junction
If Bianca Road is influenced by America, Craft Beer Junction brings a properly authentic taste of America’s legendary beer scene to the Bermondsey Beer Mile. That’s because the passionate owner air-freights in only the freshest and most hyped of American beers. There’s a particular emphasis on the haziest of IPAs and the most over-the-top of imperial stouts. Craft Beer Junction is one of the only places outside of America where you can try many of the beers on offer. But they don’t only gaze fondly across the ocean – they also make sure to showcase plenty of the UK’s most exciting breweries.
86 Enid Street, SE16 3RA. Thursday: 4:30 – 10:30pm; Friday: 4:30 – 11pm; Saturday: 2 – 11pm; Sunday: 2 – 9pm.
Stop 12: Mash Paddle Brewery
Now, you’re not going to get a chance to experience the main draw of Mash Paddle if you’re doing the Bermondsey Beer Mile. Mash Paddle was primarily opened as a space for beer enthusiasts and wannabe brewers to try out their hand at beer brewing experiences. However, it’s still an important part of the beer mile thanks to their attached taproom. They serve a handful of their own beers alongside an extensive selection of craft beers, and they also have fantastic food in the form of The Flow Pizza’s authentic Italian creations.
92 Enid St, SE16 3RA. Open Sunday-Wednesday: 12 – 7pm; Thursday: 12 – 10pm; Friday & Saturday: 12 – 11pm.
Stop 13: The Kernel Brewery Arch 7 Taproom
Is The Kernel the most iconic of London’s craft breweries? Arguably yes. This stalwart of the craft beer scene, and an OG venue on the mile, has built a reputation for doing things their way and never compromising. They still package beer into their iconic brown bottles with plain paper labels, and they still make some of the best beer in the country. And they remain passionate about brewing a wide array of styles – from brown ales to grisettes, table beers, imperial stouts, and beyond. If you name a style of beer, chances are they already make one of the tastiest and easiest-to-purchase examples.
Now, are you ready to walk off some of that booze? Because the next stop is a bit further away than you’ve become accustomed to.
Arch 7, Dockley Road Industrial Estate, SE16 3SF. Open Wednesday – Friday: 3 – 10pm; Saturday: 11am – 9pm; Sunday: 12 – 8pm.
Stop 14: The Outpost – Three Hills Brewing
A short stroll from The Kernel will bring you here, to Three Hills Brewing’s micro-brewery and taproom. Now, this isn’t their main brewing site, despite all the brewing apparatus that you can see. Instead, this is a place where the Northamptonshire-based brewery brews super-limited one-off brews, as well as serving up plenty of their other beers. They’ve got 20 taps to choose from – including beer straight from the tank – and the cosiest seating area tucked away on an upstairs mezzanine. Be careful you don’t fall asleep on the couches if you’ve made it this far!
7 Almond Road, SE163LR. Open Tuesday: 1 – 5pm (takeaway only); Friday: 4 – 11pm; Saturday: 1 – 11pm.
Stop 15: EeBria Tap
What was originally the office of the online beer distributor opens up for just one day every week. But if you make it in, you’re in luck. Thanks to relationships with over 600 breweries through their trade platform, they serve up a properly diverse and exciting line-up of beers. Hopefully you’ve made good time along the mile, though, because EeBria shuts its doors pretty early! If you aren’t there by 7, you’re out of luck. In which case, it’s on to the next (and final) one!
15 Almond Road, SE16 3LR. Open Saturday: 1 – 7pm.
Stop 16: Fourpure Brewing Co
Well, this is it. If you’re still standing, congratulations: you’ve reached the end of the Bermondsey Beer Mile! (Unless you elected to do it in the opposite direction, in which case congratulations: you’ve just started the Bermondsey Beer Mile!) Housed within the brewing behemoth’s brewery, the Fourpure taproom is an absolute monster of a venue. It’s so big, in fact, that they have an incredible 43 taps of beer! How to choose?!
Bermondsey Trading Estate, SE16 3LL. Open Thursday & Friday: 4 – 10pm; Saturday: 12 – 10pm; Sunday: 12 – 7pm.
Extra Stop: Small Beer Brew Co.
If you somehow have a hankering for just one more even after all that madness, head to the nearby Small Beer Brew Co. Specialising in ultra-sessionable beers that clock in around the 2.5% mark – you’ll get all the delicious taste of another pint, with far less of the alcohol hit. Is it part of the Bermondsey Beer Mile? That probably depends on how thirsty you are…
70-72 Verney Road, SE16 3DH. Open Wednesday-Friday: 4 – 10pm; Saturday: 12 – 10pm.
So, there you have it. You either made it all the way to the end, or you faltered along the way and had to sit down for a spell. Either way, you’re sure to have had some delicious beers and enjoyed a cracking time along the way!